[Stunaep]

Originally posted by Knight Templar
Oh, no, see, Stu doesn't like the expectation of people to speak English even in non-english native countries, so that means that it must be an American trait.

It's a new rule you know.

On a side note: I live in Northern California. I'm eating a can of Pringles chips. Everything on the can, save for the title is both in English and Spanish. T'wasn't like that 10 years ago.

Oh, and I'd just like someone to sticky this somewhere, just so people wouldn't misunderstand me five or six times more (granted, I wasn't being exactly crystal clear in my argumentation).

I was referring to Ms. T argument which basically was stating "The French force their language on everyone else", by saying "So what, the US, for example, like to force their entire culture on everyone else". I wasn't referring to english in particular. So I can't articulate myself. Sue me.

I'm judging on experience

So am I. You want arrogant people? Come here to Estonia. Arrogance squared. Or better yet, go to Russia. Heck, half the people there don't even care whether you can speak Russian or not, if you look like a tourist, they'll have nothing to do with you. So why not pick on them, instead of the french, who have a lot of redeeming qualities (plus they are nice people in and of themselves)

[Tiara]

Originally posted by Stunaep


They don't? Two foreign languages are compulsory here in Estonia. Often they are English and Russian, of course.

Oh the advantages of living in a small country.

They teach English, German, French and Dutch arond these parts. All obligatory. If you're in the Gymnasium niveau you get Greek and Latin on top of that.

[.::Tin Can::.]

Originally posted by Tiara

Ok,

- While I know most of you speak English, you refuse to.
- Everytime I walk into a store and they find out I'm a foreigner they get all cocky and distrusting. Looking at me like I'm a criminal. Wants to make me bash their craniums in.
- On the street when they hear me talk Dutch with my friend they look at us like we're aliens from Mars and refuse to give directions and/or answer any questions. They just outright ignore us.
- At clubs/restaurants/etc... The same thing. Arrogant,offensive and refusing to speak English.

Just a few points. And not just in Paris, I've had exactly the same thing in Marsailles a few years ago. Now, I've never been to the smaller villages so I don't know how people are there but city-French are a huge pain in the ass. I'm just glad I speak French else we'd be lost there.

I wouldnt do that...

- I can only speak English and a little Spanish...
- Everyone is human, everyone is equal in my book.
- Foreign Language speakers always intrigue me when they speak in native tongue. For instance: At home depot, some guy and his son were getting lumber while I was stacking up 2 X 6's, and I asked my dad what they were speaking and he said "Russian". Now, maybe its just me, but Russian is a badass language and I think it sounds neat. Same for Polish. I think foreign languages are cool.
- I dont know who these people are who dont speak English, but, they must be complete stuck up ass holes because I have never wittnessed that kind of behavior.

You say the French do that, when the French think we are just as bad. That is just to clear that up for us American peoples...

[Stealth]

well my father grew up in Portugal, and he said it was compulsory to learn two foreign languages in school... he did English and French, but he also studied Italian and Latin.  so he speaks five languages (Portuguese, English, French, Italian, and Latin) fluently (the latter two he's almost fluent in), but most Americans can't even speak the English language correctly... that's a shame too.

The only time an American will know of a European or Asian country is if
1) they attack America
2) America attacks then

[Ghostavo]

Originally posted by Stealth
There is no state that has "spanish also as a primary language"

For f***'s sake READ!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_in_the_United_States

In some states, English, Hawaiian and Spanish are official.

It's not like I'm making this stuff up!

[Stunaep]

Originally posted by Tiara

They teach English, German, French and Dutch arond these parts. All obligatory. If you're in the Gymnasium niveau you get Greek and Latin on top of that.

Dude.... I´m learning Estonian, French, English and Russian here, and I'm already half-dead. What's the point in learning Greek? I mean Latin I can get, because it's the basics of all indoeuropean languages, but greek?

[Stealth]

Ghostavo:  i can't think of any state where Spanish would be official, regardless of what that page says.  if any state would have spanish as an "official language" it would be Texas or New Mexico, and i'm pretty sure New Mexico doesn't have Spanish as its official language, and i'm positive Texas doesn't........  

it may be hard for you to comprehend exactly what i'm saying, since you live in Portugal, and aren't quite familiar with hundreds of people crossing the border every day and then insisiting on speaking their native language........

[Knight Templar]

California... we have more Mexicans than other ethnicities. Something like 48% of the state is Mexican.

Official doesn't mean it's the only language spoken, mind you. You can have two official languages.

[Stealth]

yes, but i can't see texas or new mexico making anything but english an official language... particularly with all the rednecks over here.  possibly in california, because i know it's getting pretty bad there too.

as i said, i'm not one of those people that says "shoot everyone trying to cross the border" or anything, i'm all for immigration, it's a good opportunity for a person and/or his family, and THAT's part of the American dream.  but coming to a country and leeching off its freedom ofs, and its economic system, ... you've got to leave some things behind when you move to another country.  i know i did.  and no one's saying "don't speak Spanish at all!!!" you can still speak your language at home, or with people, sure, but TRY TO LEARN ENGLISH, because by far the majority of the country speaks it, and ITS NOT RIGHT to expect everyone in the country to learn your language.  this has got to be, what, the fourth time i'm saying this in this thread.  and no one can say "your thinking's flawed" or anything when they've never been/lived in this part of America, and they don't see what's happening.  in the end my entire family's going to have to learn Spanish...

[Ghostavo]

No Stealth, I'm familiar with turists speaking spanish and thinking Portugal is a province of Spain and mistake every single word I say for spanish, yeah... I don't have those things...

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Stunaep
As opposed to?

Going to a country and being surprised by how rude people can be

[Stealth]

Originally posted by Ghostavo
No Stealth, I'm familiar with turists speaking spanish and thinking Portugal is a province of Spain and mistake every single word I say for spanish, yeah... I don't have those things...

no.  no there's a difference between TOURISTS and IMMIGRANTS... tourists i don't expect to learn a language when they come to a country for a few days/weeks... immigrants who come to the country, buy a house, and buy a car, and live here, i expect to learn (or ATTEMPT to learn) the language...


EDIT:  Ghostavo, this is a bit off-topic, but i work at a Portuguese restaurant down here... and you'll be suprised how many people come into the restaurant and don't know what "PORTUGAL" is... you think i'm kidding... i'm really not.  of course most people have heard of it, just don't know exactly where it is, but you get the occasional American who doesn't know what it is... .  just thought that might interest you

[Ghostavo]

I know most people don't know where Portugal is...

Stealth, the only way to make them "see" us is if you say "FIGO!!" (stupid, I know, but it gets the message past). By the way, I wasn't being sarcastic, although sometimes it gets a bit confused, sorry.

So... back to the original topic, can you get one map without... say... er... Spain?

[Flipside]

ROFL You're Portugese sure enough